Residence permits extended, prefectures to reopen gradually

Extended residence permits to secure the stay of international students.

To secure the right of residence for international students during the sanitary crisis due to the Covid-19 epidemic, residence permits that expired between March 16 and May 15, 2020 have been automatically extended for six months. This process includes:

• long stay visas;
• provisional residence authorizations;
• receipt of residence permit applications.

Social rights and labour rights have also been extended.

This means that residence permits included in the process will be valid for a period ranging from September 16 to November 15, 2020. It is thus not necessary to renew your permit before the new expiration date.

The reference text to prove this extension is art. 24 of decree 2020-460 from April 22, 2020 describing various actions taken to face the Covid-19 epidemic.

The French parliament has extended this action to include residence permits expiring between May 16 and June 15, 2020. 

The validity extension for the residence permit is valid on the French territory. International students who exited the country and want to come back to France must contact the French consulate of the country where they are to apply for a return visa.

Gradual reopening of prefectures

Since the official declaration lifting the lockdown on May 11, services in prefectures are gradually reopening on various local conditions. The processing of students’ procedures in relation with their residence permit resumes, but reception capacity and appointments options are still limited.

Prefectures published frequently updated FAQs to provide information to international nationals, such as the Préfecture de Police (police prefecture), or information on the opening of their services. Such FAQs are about public reception, appointment bookings and managements, file processing, permit issuance, etc.

To know the reopening conditions for your prefecture services, check out your prefecture website.